Gene Drive in the News

A curated collection of articles from the popular press

Malaria auf die drastische Art bekampfen

Kusma, S,  Neue Zürcher Zeitung,  2018-11-13 00:00:00.
Gene-Drives sind gentechnische Veränderungen, die sich rasend schnell in Populationen ausbreiten und ganze Arten zum Aussterben bringen könnten. Zur Bekämpfung von Krankheiten birgt das grosses Potenzial. Aber man sollte wissen, was man tut.

Scientists divided over new research method to combat malaria

Sample, I,  The Guardian,  2018-11-13 00:00:00.
Work on engineered gene used to modify DNA of mosquitoes ‘could be stifled’ by perceived risk to environment

United Nations considers a test ban on evolution-warping gene drives

Regalado, A,  MIT Technology Review,  2018-11-13 00:00:00.
Debate over a new idea for stopping malaria is pitting some environmental groups against Bill Gates.

Un organismo genéticamente modificado podría terminar con la malaria y salvar millones de vidas

Parra, S,  Xataka Ciencia,  2018-11-12 00:00:00.
Un grupo de investigadores han introducido una mutación de esterilización que ha logrado eliminar las poblaciones de mosquitos de laboratorio en siete a once generaciones. Básicamente, todo depdende del CRISPR, una herramienta desarrollada en la última década que ha facilitado enormemente la edición precisa de los genes de todo, desde virus y bacterias hasta mosquitos y humanos.

Do not betray Africa on synbio and gene drives

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etc group,  etc group,  2018-11-11 00:00:00.
As representatives of a broad range of African civil society organisations (CSOs), we do not feel represented by the delegations of Nigeria and South Africa, speaking on behalf of African Group, in their attempt to speak on behalf of the people of Africa on the issue of synthetic biology (synbio) and gene drive organisms (GDOs).

GM Mozzies could bite off more than we can shoo

Jordan, B,  Times Select,  2018-11-09 00:00:00.
The world’s deadliest insect, the mosquito, may have finally met its match – a genetically-modified version of itself. But will the GM variety be friend or foe? And is it safe to release a GM insect into the wild without knowing how far it will spread, or what the long-term effects will be? An SA environmental watchdog group this week slammed the planned rollout of GM mosquitoes as premature and potentially dangerous. The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) says there are insufficient environmental risk assessments to justify releasing GM mosquitoes into the wild

Release of risky GM mosquitoes in Burkina faso highly unethical.

GM Watch,  GM Watch,  2018-11-09 00:00:00.
Risky genetically modified (GM) “male-sterile” mosquitoes are due to be released in the near future in Burkina Faso by the Target Malaria research consortium. However, Target Malaria acknowledges that there are no benefits to the proposed GM mosquito release.; ; According to Mariam Mayet, executive director of the African Centre for Biodiversity, “There is absolutely no justification for releasing these GM mosquitoes. It is highly unethical and totally unacceptable to conduct experiments which carry risks, yet do not bring any benefit for malaria control in Burkina Faso."

Gene drives promise great gains and great dangers

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The Economist,  The Economist,  2018-11-08 00:00:00.
Extinctions are seldom cause for celebration. Humans are wiping out species at a frightening rate, whether hunting them into history or, far more threateningly, damaging the habitats on which they depend. But occasionally, the destruction is warranted. Smallpox was officially eradicated in 1980, and no one laments the fate of the virus that caused it; campaigns to save the virus that causes polio are thin on the ground. How, then, to think about a new technology that will make driving a species to extinction far easier?

The promise and peril of gene drives

The Economist,  The Economist,  2018-11-08 00:00:00.
I think i got it,” says Alekos Simoni with a grin, returning an electronic fly zapper called “The Executioner” to a nearby metal shelf. With a deft flick of his wrist he has done away with a genetically modified mosquito that was making a bid for freedom. There are many levels of containment to ensure such creatures do not leave this basement laboratory at Imperial College, London. But none, perhaps, quite so satisfying as The Executioner.; ; The extermination that the creatures in Mr Simoni’s lab are designed to take part in is less viscerally gratifying—but far more consequential. The mosquitoes are being fitted with a piece of dna called a gene drive. Unlike the genes introduced into run-of-the-mill genetically modified organisms, gene drives do not just sit still once inserted into a chromosome. They actively spread themselves, thereby reaching more and more of the population with each generation. If their effect is damaging, they could in principle wipe out whole species.

South Africa investigates sterilising mosquitoes in anti-malaria drive

Muhenga, G,  The Conversation,  2018-11-07 00:00:00.
South Africa is one of four southern African countries aiming to eliminate malaria transmission by 2023. Indoor residual spraying using DDT and pyrethroid insecticides constitutes the backbone of South Africa’s malaria control programmes.; ; Effective vector control by indoor residual spraying has been key in the reduction of malaria cases. This was instrumental in creating malaria-free zones in most parts of the country. Malaria transmission is now limited to the north-eastern parts of Limpopo province, the low-veld areas of Mpumalanga province and the far northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal province.

African Union’s endorsement of unproven gene drive mosquitoes “misguided”

GM Watch,  GMWatch,  2018-11-05 00:00:00.
The African Union (AU) is paving the way for the entry of the latest and most controversial form of genetic engineering – gene drive technologies. In July 2018 the AU released a report endorsing the development of the technology as well as "enabling legislation" for their deployment across its member states. The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), has released a critique of the AU report, which the ACB says is hopelessly premature and merely repeats unsubstantiated claims made by gene drive developers.

Scientists near malaria elimination

Muanya, C,  The Guardian,  2018-11-01 00:00:00.
Scientists are getting closer in efforts to eliminate malaria with new genetic engineering tool. Scientists have devised a gene drive that wiped out the mosquito’s populations in lab tests. They say gene editing may push a species of malaria-carrying mosquito to extinction.

Sterile insect technique field trials to eliminate malaria under way

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Anonymous,  SA Department of Science and Innovation,  2018-10-29 13:06:00.
The first South African research trial for the biological control of mosquitoes using the sterile insect technique started in Jozini in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month, with funding from the Department of Science and Technology. South Africa is making significant progress in reducing the incidence of malaria, and is now at a level where the country in a prime position to begin with complementary vector control strategies that address the problem of insecticide resistance. However, indoor residual spraying (IRS) using DDT and pyrethroid insecticides, while effective in controlling the disease, is unlikely to eliminate malaria on its own. IRS targets mainly indoor feeding and resting mosquitoes, and is not effective against vectors that feed and rest outdoors such as Anopheles arabiensis, which is a major contributor to outdoor transmission in South Africa's malaria-affected provinces. One of the supplementary methods being explored is the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT). This works like birth control to suppress mosquito populations and reduce the spread of malaria. The technique involves the mass-rearing and sterilisation of male mosquitoes before they are released in the wild.

EU Adopts Negotiating Position for 2018 Biodiversity Conference

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Tsioumani, E,  International Institute for Sustainable Development,  2018-10-25 00:00:00.
The Council of the EU calls for increased efforts to fully achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and for the adoption of an ambitious follow-up to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, to strengthen implementation of the CBD and its Protocols, as well as of other biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements and relevant SDGs.; ; It calls for the adoption of a long-term strategic approach on biodiversity mainstreaming, and highlights that ecosystem restoration, conservation and ecosystem-based approaches can significantly contribute to combating climate change.

GM mosquitoes in Burkina Faso: Scientists hope to end malaria with genetically modified mosquitoes

TimesNowNews,  TimesNow,  2018-10-22 00:00:00.
Scientists are determined that the release of the genetically engineered mosquitoes in Africa will help eradicate malaria in the region that kills nearly three million people worldwide every year.

Synthetic biology mosquitoes: Pioneering solution emerges to counter fears over using genetic engineerting to control Zika

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English, C,  Genetic Literacy Project,  2018-10-17 00:00:00.
In fall 2015, the biotech company Oxitec planned to release genetically engineered mosquitoes throughout the Florida Keys capable of stopping their wild relatives from spreading Zika, a dangerous virus that causes birth defects and damages the nervous system. These lab-bread insects carry a lethal gene that is only deactivated when the engineered mosquitoes are exposed to the antibiotic tetracycline. When they breed with their wild relatives, the mosquitoes pass this gene to their offspring. Because tetracycline isn’t available in nature, the offspring inevitably die when the gene is activated, which prevents them from transmitting Zika.

A Call to Protect Food Systems from Genetic Extinction Technology

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Global Food and Agriculture Movement,  etc Group,  2018-10-16 20:31:12.
Gene drives threaten natural systems. If released experimentally into the environment they may spread engineered genes uncontrollably through wild and domesticated species. This could alter ecological systems and food webs, harm biodiversity and eradicate beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Gene drives could disrupt lands, waters, food and fiber economies and harm Indigenous and peasant agroecological practices and cultures.

Just Say No to Agricultural Gene Drives

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Bassey-Orovwuje, M.,  Project Syndicate,  2018-10-16 00:00:00.
By forcing laboratory-made genes on an entire population or species, cutting-edge gene-drive technologies have the power to transform entire ecosystems in one fell swoop. But where leading industrial agriculture firms see dollar signs, farmers in the regions where gene drives could be unleashed see a mortal threat to their livelihoods.

New GM ‘eradication’ techniques pose grave threat to ecosystems

Laroux, J,  The Greens| The European Free Alliance,  2018-10-16 00:00:00.
Do you remember those US “radiation movies” from the 1950s and 60s, where mutated animals wreaked havoc, like in the now cult film Them (featuring James Whitemore and some very clever and scary giant ants)? The point that these films were making, apart from the inherent dangers of nuclear fission technologies, was that it is not wise to have mutated creatures spread into the environment because we cannot handle the impacts.

Gene drive organisms: German ministry warns of risks from releases

GM Watch,  GMWatch,  2018-10-15 00:00:00.
The German Ministry for the Environment has, in response to an open letter sent by several civil society organisations, issued a statement very critical of genetically engineered organisms carrying a so-called gene drive. The ministry announced that it will take action on an international level to make sure that the associated risks are fully investigated. This position is especially relevant for an upcoming international conference within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which will take place in November.

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